Evidence of meeting #30 for Veterans Affairs in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was question.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Frank Valeriote Liberal Guelph, ON
Understanding that neither the Department of Veterans Affairs here or the Public Service Commission of Canada can answer my question about the five-year limitation, who do I ask that question of? Who is responsible to give me an answer?
October 27th, 2014 / 4:55 p.m.
President, Public Service Commission of Canada
I think the Department of Veterans Affairs and the minister responsible for the legislation—
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Frank Valeriote Liberal Guelph, ON
But they said they weren't. They said it's not their responsibility to answer that.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Frank Valeriote Liberal Guelph, ON
No, I don't want you to get me those answers. I want it from someone in authority who—
4:55 p.m.
An hon. member
The minister.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Greg Kerr
Okay, rather than bog this down, I think we've made record of the fact three or four times that Frank has made it quite clear that he'd like an answer on that five-year deal.
It certainly is not incumbent on those who are implementing it to give the answer. It's up to those who develop the policy and pass it.
What we will do to assure Mr. Valeriote is that it will be a minister, whether it's Treasury Board or Veterans Affairs—
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Greg Kerr
I didn't say that. I said that you want an answer, so we'll make sure it goes to the right person. You know what, I'm going to hire you a lawyer.
4:55 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, Oh!
4:55 p.m.
NDP
4:55 p.m.
President, Public Service Commission of Canada
I just have a comment on the five years. I would like to point out that, as I said, up until 2012 we had a great deal of success in placing medically released veterans, with 72% placement rate. As I said, it was the highest rate of any group in the priority system. That was with a two-year entitlement, so I do believe that extending the period to five years will make a positive difference in our ability to appoint even more veterans if they can stay in the system for a longer period of time.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Greg Kerr
I appreciate that. I'm sure whichever the minister, they will say that it's a great improvement over what was in place, because it's a much longer time. I think we'll hear a similar answer, I would hope, when it comes back from government.
Do you want to ask another question?
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Greg Kerr
I'm going to thank our presenters, or witnesses, very much. It was very helpful, as we consider this.
We're going to have a two-minute suspension, then we're going in camera. So only the members of the committee and their staff can stay.
[Proceedings continue in camera]
